FAQs - Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)

A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is a set of roads where the parking places and single yellow lines which form the CPZ are controlled for a certain period during the day. The principle aim of the CPZ is reduce non-essential parking and prioritise parking for residents, short-term visitors and local businesses.

For the CPZ to be enforceable, all kerb space within the parking zone must be managed by a form of parking control. To ensure safety and flow of traƯic, parking is only permitted where accessibility and safety are not impacted. This is clearly indicated with a marked parking bay.

Zone entry signs, positioned at all zone entry points will indicate to motorists when they enter and leave the CPZ. These signs are positioned to face traƯic coming into the area. All parking bays also have sign plates which show the restriction and hours of control.

During the hours of operation, vehicles may only park within a marked parking bay. Resident permit holders may park in any signed bay that displays the zone identifier. The CPZ will provide parking for a designated use or for a particular road user, for example, a goods only loading bay or business permit bay. 

These types of parking bays will be signed and will indicate who is entitled to park there. Parking is permitted on single yellow lines outside the operational times of the CPZ.

Yellow lines indicate where parking is not permitted. The CPZ includes single yellow lines placed across residents dropped kerbs, which assist with maintaining accessibility and reduces the likelihood of obstructive parking. The single yellow lines operational times are aligned with those of the CPZ. 

Double yellow lines are provided at road junctions, in turning heads and across access points, where access is always required, for example, an electricity substation. Double yellow lines can also be introduced in narrow roads, where a parked vehicle would impede the flow of vehicular traƯic.

Residents are restricted to parking within their own zone. A zone 15 permit cannot be used to park within zone 16 and vice versa.

It is not possible to guarantee anyone parking availability on the public highway. CPZ’s prevent long-stay parking, so there is generally more parking availability for residents during zone operational times.

Blue Badge holders may park without a maximum stay period within any disabled bay, resident bay and shared use bay. Parking on a single yellow line is permitted for a stay of three hours, providing the parked vehicle does not impede vehicular traƯic flow or negatively impact on road safety and accessibility.

Residents will be able to purchase visitor vouchers for their visitors, that will enable them to park within the zone during operational hours. Alternatively, visitors can also use any of the limited waiting bays in the area to park for the length of time indicated on the signs during the operational hours.

Visitor voucher applications are currently restricted to a maximum of 50 vouchers per year, per household. These limits are set to give everyone a fair chance of parking in congested areas. Additional permits will not be issued. This is an existing Council policy that is applied across the county and will require a council wide review, which will need to be approved by Council committee to be amended.

These bays can be used by either resident or visitor permit holders, and by those that reside outside the zone. There is no restriction on the length of stay for resident and visitor permit holders, but parking for those who reside outside of the zone has a maximum stay period, which will be displayed on the sign. Shared use parking supports local businesses and enables visitors outside of Cheltenham to have access to its amenities.

Yes, but only outside of the zone operational times.

It is a legal requirement that parking schemes are self-suƯicient as Council Tax funding is not available to fund CPZ schemes. The permit costs meet the costs associated with implementing and enforcing the CPZ. By law, any excess revenue arising from the CPZ schemes after covering the management costs must only be invested in transport related projects such as carriageway improvements.

Any resident that owns a vehicle registered at an address within the zone will be eligible for a parking permit. Local business will be eligible for a business permit providing that the business address is within the zone.

The CPZ will be enforced by the Council’s appointed Civil Enforcement OƯicers (CEOs). The CEOs will patrol the zone and can issue a Penalty Charge Notice to any vehicle that is illegally parked.

This is a review of zone 15 in terms of how it is currently operating and seeks residents’ views on proposals to improve parking in Cheltenham. Feedback from the consultation will not result in the removal of all parking controls within the area (current zone 15).

The current engagement seeks feedback from zone 15 residents on concept plans drafted following the recent public events that sought comments and views on the existing zone 15 controls. Following the initial zone 15 consultation, residents of the above roads responded advising that they did not wish for their road to be considered for parking controls. 

Currently the revised concept designs do not include these roads and there is no intention to include these roads within any amendments to zone 15. However, these draft proposals are still out for consultation and will be updated based on feedback. This means we still want to hear from residents from these streets and we would welcome your feedback on our proposals. To have you say, please fill out the survey by Friday 27 September 2024.

The proposed changes to parking controls will not change permit prices. However, please note that in future years permit prices may increase subject to a decision made by our cabinet. For current information on permit prices please visit Current Permit Prices.